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There's a place for you here.

New to Richmond? Unfamiliar with the Episcopal Church, or with Christianity? Welcome. 

Whoever you are, wherever you are in your spiritual journey, the people of St. Stephen's Church hope that your experience with this church will encourage and strengthen you. 

As you browse our Web site, you might consider: 

  • visiting St. Stephen's for a worship service and/or watching our livestreamed services

  • coming to an informal supper

  • stopping by the Farmers Market on Saturday morning

  • attending one of our receptions for visitors and newcomers

  • signing up for an Inquirers Class

  • subscribing to St. Stephen's weekly email, the eSpirit; there is no cost, no obligation, and we will not share your email address with any outside group

  • attending a retreat, workshop or group, or participating in any of the other offerings you'll see on these pages.

Do as much or as little as you like. There are no "requirements" for being a part of this community of faith. If you wish to be baptized or confirmed, or to transfer your membership from another Episcopal parish, we'd love for you to do so. But it's not required. Everything we do, everything we offer, is open to all, regardless of whether you are a "member" of this church. If you're here, you belong. 

Here's an online visitor card: it's not required--it just helps us to be more responsive to you!

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
6000 Grove Avenue
Richmond, VA 23226
804.288.2867

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Our services

St. Stephen's is a vibrant parish offering several kinds of worship services. Sunday, of course, is our big day. You are most welcome at any of the services held here.

Sunday schedule (from the Sunday after Labor Day through the Sunday before Memorial Day)

8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*, in the main church and in Palmer Hall Chapel
10:10 a.m., Education for all ages*
11:15 a.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite Two*
5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion
6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper
8:00 p.m., Compline

Sunday schedule (from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend)

8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion*
6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper
8:00 p.m., Compline

*indicates child care available through age 4

Weekday worship

Year-round
8:10 a.m., Morning Prayer with Communion

(When the parish office is closed for a holiday or due to inclement weather, weekday Morning Prayer does not take place.) 

Where we're located

St. Stephen's is located at the corner of Three Chopt Road and Grove Avenue (the address is 600 Grove Avenue), near the University of Richmond and across the street from St. Catherine's School.

If you are coming to the church office, the most direct route is through the double glass doors to the parish house off the parking lot on Somerset.  If you're coming for a worship service, you can enter from Grove Avenue or Three Chopt Road.

Accessibility

There are several entrances to the church and parish house that are designed to be accessible to those with mobility issues or other physical limitations:

All entrances to the church, and the main entrance to the parish house, are equipped with power-assist doors. In addition, the main entrance to the parish house, from the large parking lot, has an elevator on the ground floor that allows you to bypass the steps. The Grove Avenue entrance to the main church is gently sloped, without steps, and the Three Chopt Road entrance has a ramp.

Inside the church, several pews are shortened to allow space for a wheelchair or walker: the first pews on either side of the center aisle, nearest the altar, and the pews near the large baptismal font.

The church is equipped with assistive hearing devices for the hearing-impaired. Please ask an usher for one of these devices as you enter the church.

More about Services Contact Us

From birth through high school

St. Stephen's Church has an active ministry for children and youth, staffed by an energetic and talented family ministries staff and dedicated, well-trained volunteers. Our family ministry staff sends an email newsletter to parents for which you may sign up.

Our main offering for young children is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. For youth in grades 6-12, we use Journey to Adulthood. Both are highly regarded spiritual formation approaches.

We also strive to provide opportunities for parents to learn, grow, and receive support from other parents and from our clergy.

HOLY BAPTISM

Holy Baptism is available for babies, children, and adults. Read more about Baptism and preparation here.

CONFIRMATION 

At St. Stephen's, young people who desire to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church may enter the preparation process in the ninth grade or later. Confirmation takes place when one of our bishops visits St. Stephen's, usually in May.

More about Children More about Youth

Young adults

Young adults--single or partnered, with children or not, in college or working--are invited to take part in everything St. Stephen's has to offer, from worship to small groups, choirs to Sunday Community suppers, from outreach and volunteer activities to our environmental stewardship group.

We have tagged 20s and 30s as "young adulthood" but many who participate in young adult activities are in their 40s. The bottom line is, no one will ask you your age--if you think of yourself as a young adult, so do we!

While young adults at St. Stephen's sometimes gather with others in their age cohort, everyone is welcome to join a group or a class with adults of all ages. 

Children and teenagers love having adults who are closer to their age as teachers and mentors. You do not have to be a parent to serve in our ministries among children and youth.

Many young adults particularly enjoy the Compline service at St. Stephen's Church, held Sunday nights at 8 in the church. This ancient service is used as the last service of the day in monastic communities, cathedrals, churches, and schools, and many people say it in their homes. (It's found on page 127 of the Book of Common Prayer.) At St. Stephen's, the service is sung by a mixed a cappella choir. The choir chants prayers and psalms, interspersed with motets. It's an exquisite service, with candles (no other lighting) and incense. Those who attend sit in or lie on a pew in silence, praying, meditating or simply listening to the music. The service lasts just 30 minutes. 

We livestream our main Sunday morning service, our Celtic service, and Compline each Sunday. You'll find these on our Web site, on our Facebook page, and on our YouTube channel.

A fellowship

One of the distinctive things about being an Episcopalian is the sense of connection and fellowship one has with other Episcopalian Christians. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church is part of the Diocese of Virginia, one of the oldest and largest dioceses in the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Our diocese includes 80,000 people who worship God and reach out to others in nearly 180 parishes in 38 counties in central, northern and northwestern Virginia. It is one of three Episcopal dioceses in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the others being the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia (based in Roanoke) and the Diocese of Southern Virginia (based in Norfolk). You can read more about the Diocese of Virginia at thediocese.net.

The best way to learn about what it means to be a Christian in the Episcopal tradition is to attend an inquirers class. This class usually meets once a week for seven weeks and is taught by our clergy two or three times each year.

 

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Sunday Schedule

Holy Eucharist: 8:00, 9:00, 11:15

Christian Education for all ages: 10:10 (returning September)

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OUR LOCATION

6000 Grove Avenue Richmond, VA 23226
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Crisis in the Holy Land

Coming in 2024

Additional opportunities for learning and discussion are coming during Lent 2024.

Sacred Conversation

Wednesday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Led by the Rev. Cate Anthony

This month, following the final Wednesday supper of 2023, come to Palmer Hall for a time of holy conversation as we reflect on the ongoing suffering and violence in the Holy Land. In this Advent season of hope and expectation, it is difficult to process such heartache in the land of Jesus’ birth, and this evening will give us a chance to share and give voice to that juxtaposition. We will end with an opportunity for quiet prayer and candle-lighting as together we keep vigil for the promise of peace.

“Sacred Conversations” are discrete sessions during which a community gathers to have open and vulnerable conversation about a particular topic.

Previous offerings and resources

  • A message from our rector, the Rev. John D. Rohrs (October 13, 2023); John's sermon focused on the war on Sunday, October 15, and videos are linked below)
  • A presentation by the Rev. William L. Sachs (October 18, 2023) (Video recording is embedded at the bottom of this page)
  • Resources for families with children
  • Episcopal Church news and resources
  • We will continue to include the people of the Holy Land in our prayers during Sunday services.

From the rector

On October 13, 2023, the Rev. John D. Rohrs, rector, sent a message to our email subscribers, which included the following words:

Like you, I have watched the news from the Holy Land with increasing levels of sorrow. Our hearts ache for the families of those who were kidnapped or who died in the horrific series of attacks last weekend. As war unfolds this week, our prayers are with all of the innocent people of that land who live in fear. 

There are no easy answers and no simple prayers in the face of such suffering and in the context of a centuries-old conflict. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans that when prayer seems impossible or ineffectual, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in sighs too deep for words. We pray for God’s reconciling Spirit to move swiftly in these harrowing days....

As always, we stand ready to talk with you if you would like to schedule a pastoral visit with a member of the clergy or staff.  

May God’s peace which passes all understanding bless us and keep us, and may that same peace settle upon the hearts of the leaders and people of Israel, Gaza, and the surrounding region.  

John's sermon at the 8, 9, and 11:15 a.m. services addressed the crisis. You can watch it here.

Presentation by the Rev. William L. Sachs

Wednesday, October 18, 6:30 p.m. in the church

During this evening of learning, conversation, and prayer, Bill Sachs shared some personal remarks and framed an evening of conversation and reflection that concluded with prayers for peace. Bill's focus was on living with compassion and understanding for innocent people of all faiths who find themselves mired in the legacy of conflict in the land of Jesus’ birth. As you may know, Bill was the founding director of the Center for Interfaith Reconciliation at St. Stephen's and has visited the Middle East many times. (A video recording is at the bottom of this page.)

Our parish supper on October 18 was planned by Claire Hackley, our chef, with Middle Eastern influences.

Resources for children

gaza-children-copy.jpgThe Rev. Abby Kocher, our Director of Children’s Ministry, has shared some resources for children, youth, and families. They are linked below. Note that they are not specific to this particular situation but are relevant for various contexts of violent suffering or war. 

The work of the Episcopal Church

An ongoing list on Episcopal Church resources relating to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It will be updated as further information and resources become available.

Response by Episcopal Relief and Development

Link to the website of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

O God of all justice and peace, we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land. Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths--Jews, Muslims and Christians, and for all people of the land. While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace, we also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples. Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honor as your children, for, to all of us, you are our Heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

written by Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

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